Henry g



(No Model.)

H. G. PIFFARD.

l MAGNBSIUM FLASH LAMP. No. 413,547. Patented-Oct. 22, 1889.

' @vih/wooo@ MM @Ms M N. PETERS. PlmxaLinvdgraphr. wnshngnm D. c.

f UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

HENRY PIFFARD, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

MAGNESIUM FLASH-LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,547, dated October 22, 1889.

' Application filed December l, 1888. Serial No. 292,411. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY G. PIFFARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented acertain new and useful Improved Magnesium Flash- Lamp, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my'invention is to provide a ro simple, convenient, and easily-operated apparatus for producing powerful flashes of light from powdered magnesium.

My invention consists in the combination of a flat alcohol-lamp, a receptacle for magnesium, and a pressure-bulb, all connected together so that the apparatus maybe supported and operated by a single hand, and arranged in proper manner to project a stream of magnesium powder in a horizontal direction across the ame.

My invention consists, further, in combining the parts described by a separable connection, permitting the detachment of the pressure-bulb and lamp from one another for convenience of transportation.

In the accompanying drawings Ihave shown one way of connecting and supporting the parts together in accordance with my invention.

Figure l is a vertical section through the apparatus, and Fig. 2 Ais a vertical section through the holder for the magnesium powder.

A indicates a flat alcohol-lamp of anyT description packed with asbestus or other suitable material which will absorb the alcohol which produces the alcohol-name.

H is the usual cover for said lamp.

G indicates anozzle through which the magnesium powder is projected across the burning surface of the lamp when the pressurebulb B of the apparatus is compressed.

The lamp is supported by means of an arm or extension I, which is separably attached to a collar K upon the neck of the pressure-bulb B, as indicated, by means of the screw-threads.

- In the form of my invention herein shown the magnesium powder is contained in a receptacle C, into which air is forced through a pipe E when the bulb B is compressed. The

powder and air escape from the receptacle C through the pipe F to the nozzle G. Air enters the bulb B through a valve D when the bulb is relieved of pressure. The bulb B, the receptacle C, and other parts form together a device well known as a means for projecting a stream of powder in any desired direction.

In the operation of the apparatus the lamp VA is lighted and a single compression of the bulb B will deliver a stream of powder G at 6o right angles to the flame of the lamp A.

I denominate the lamp A a flat alcohollamp because of the large fiat surface on which the name burns.

i For the purpose of spreading the magnesium stream, the nozzle G is preferably iiattened, as indicated in Fig. 1. By means of this arrangement the apparatus can be used with onehand and without any artificial support for any of the different parts of the same, 7o the bulb B being grasped by the hand in obvious manner.

It is obvious that the lamp might be supported from the bulb or a part secured thereto in any other desired way without departing from my invention, and also that the stream of magnesium powder might be delivered from any other receptacle upon the flame by the simple compression of a bulb.

It is also obvious that the parts might be con- 8o nected by a device which would not allow separat-ion; but I prefer to connect them by a screw-joint or other means of detachment for the convenience of carriage.

I do not claim as novel the blowing of mag- 8 5 nesium through an alcohol-llame by means of a pressure-bulb, as this has been previously done; nor do I claim the throwing of magnesium through the center of a ring or annular frame in a vertical direction, as this also has 9o been done, but I may use an annular lamp with magnesium jet so arranged as to throw the magnesium horizontally; but

W'hat I do claim as my invention is l. A flash-lamp having amagnesium-receptacle, a bulb within which said receptacle is located, and which serves asa hand-grasp, an air-induction tube extending to the interior of said bulb, an ejector-tube leading therefrom, and a flat alcohol-lamp attached to the icc neck of said bulb, substantially as described.

2. A dash-lamp having a magnesium-recepan air-induction tube extending into said receptacle, an ejector-tube leading therefrom, and a Hat alcohol-lamp attached to the necl of the bulb, as and for the purpose described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New7 York, this 22d day 0f November, A. D. 1888.

HENRY G. PIFFARD. Witnesses:

WM. H. CA'PEL, IRA R. STEWARD. 

